U.S. in Bali: We’re in.

The U.S. has agreed to participate in an environmental treaty to reduce harmful emissions.

From the CNN article:

Humberto Rosa, a Portuguese environmental official, said a standoff had come to an end when specific guidelines were removed from wording about future emission cuts.

The United States objected to the specific guidelines, saying including them was moving the process too quickly and would preempt any future negotiations.

This is a great sign. Any global climate treated is moot without the U.S. and other powerful nations. But it’s not an outright victory. It’s a victory to get to the next set of negotiations.

I’m not sure how this will turn out (I certainly didn’t see this coming). While my personal opinion is that it’s not in the U.S.’ best interest to agree to an emissions abatement treaty that puts undue weight on developed countries and not developing countries. A more equitable agreement accounting for emissions levels, economic strength, technology sharing, and more would be more fair to everyone (and actually accomplish the goal).

This not withstanding, the American people are who run this country. And while the government has dragged its feat, the private sector has been working hard to push for local policies and developing new businesses that provide new, environmentally friendly options. I hope that the rest of the world acknowledges this work as well.

Good Technology

CO2 “reenergizing”.
Sandia National Labs is continuing its research on using sunlight to convert CO2 into CO, a much more usable gas that can be converted into fuels and other chemicals. From the Press Release:

Using concentrated solar energy to reverse combustion, a research team from Sandia National Laboratories is building a prototype device intended to chemically “reenergize” carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide using concentrated solar power. The carbon monoxide could then be used to make hydrogen or serve as a building block to synthesize a liquid combustible fuel, such as methanol or even gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Read More »

Cheaper Fuel Cell Membranes
Researchers at Ames national labs has made a discovery in developing cheaper fuel cell membranes. In short, the scientists used techniques to survey the properties of a very high-performance membrane called Nafion. They discovered that the long chains tend to have very small defects that, when aligned with each other, form channels throughout the structure of the membrane. These channels facilitate better mass transfer mechanics throughout the membrane including better dewatering properties (very important) and high-temperature operation. This knowledge could allow for developing ways of building in these properties in future designs that push these new properties into areas that could make fuel cells more commercially viable.

Read the Press Release »

Geothermal smell test
Technology Review is reporting that researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and Arizona State have discovered a possible means of detecting suitable geothermal spots. In short, they have discovered a correlation between geothermal activity and a concentration of Helium isotopes. Essentially, elevated levels of H-3, very prevalent in the earth’s mantle, but not the earth’s crust, gives an indication of exposure to the mantle’s heat resources.

Read the Technology Review Article »

Just a reminder: why we like gasoline
I know everyone’s touting the Tesla roadster as a high-performance hot-rod that pollutes less. But…just as a reminder – this is why we like gasoline.

CNET Review of the 2008 Saleen S302

0-60 in < 4 seconds (like the Tesla), but a little more traditional design, nicer interior, and other options. And…you get a stick shift (which I swear by). It’s cheaper too.